[unclelach]

The world price of oil has really climbed in the last year.  I wonder if changes in fuel prices have much affected rickshaw and taxi charges in India.

Rickshaw drivers told me that most of their take went in fuel when I was last in India, 2003.  Taxi drivers told me that even the small Suzuki van taxi was a bad choice for a short trip because of high fuel prices.

Have higher fuel prices reduced the numbers of rickshaws and taxis or is there some pricing mechanism that keeps them running?

[unclelach]

From a quick look at "The Times of India" I see that India has national price control of fuel and what looks like local price controls of fares.

As most taxi and rickshaw rides are charged by agreement, I wonder if fares have jumped much in the past three years.

[crvlvr]

fFuel price in India is pretty much controlled by the govt.  The govt adds a whole bunch of taxes. When world prices fluctuate, they absorb the price differentials for while before they adjust the prices at the gas stations.  Typically the price of gas will be the same from station to station (unlike the US).

When the retail prices are raised, and the govt allows the taxis/autos to raise their rates, the meters in the autos and taxis have to be recalibrated to reflect new rates.  Obviously this takes time, and until the recalibration is complete, the auto/taxis are allowed to charge a premium. Again, this is specified by the govt. Rs5 over meter (or something like that) most autos/taxis are required to chare only meter rates. However, enforcement of these laws can vary from city to city.

Bangalore typically has taxis/autos run on meter.  It might help if other members reply with the name of the city and their experience.

[Strawberry_Blonde]

Auto fares in Bangalore are now Rs6 per km, minimum fare Rs12.

Most other places I have been too it seems a negotiable fare which is a pain when you have no idea if the place you need to get to is round the corner or 5K away!!

[Sudheer Poppa]

And on the topic most places the taxi and rickshaws are moving to gas as fuel. For instance in Bangalore,  rickshaws are legally required to be run on gas for pollution reason.

Most of the country is catching up on this route for the comparitively cheaper costs of gas vs petrol.

Ok Gas as in natural gas and not gasoline !

[unclelach]

Thanks for the replies crvlvr and Strawberry Blonde.  Fares for foreign tourists are usually low compared with those visitors pay at home but I have wondered how long taxi and rickshaw drivers must work each day to live.  I wonder if drivers must rely on commissions from shops to survive.

As a passenger I had some fun rides when once my rickshaw broke  a throtttle cable and  another time the clutch/transmission cable failed.  In the latter case my rickshaw man managed to reach an outdoor repair centre where a teenage mechanic had the cable replaced within half an hour.

[john.sw]

There are over 1000 auto rickshaws in the little Hill Station of Ooty - far too many for the local population - so when the tourists have gone home most of them sit around waiting for a customer.

Fuel price hikes have served not only to spark off protests among the rickshaw wallahs, but have also seen prices rise for passengers.

Although the rickshaws are required to display the official price list, few do.  They hope to charge extra.

Whether or a price list is displayed, you should always settle on a fare before you jump into the auto - in this way there can be no misunderstandings.

Here is a copy of the Dec 2005 price list


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